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Reviews/ Honda/ Vfr1200x
WATCH REVIEW
8.0/10 Adventure

Honda Vfr1200x Review

"The most underrated adventure tourer Honda ever built, period."

Sport-touring riders wanting V4 character and reliability $7,500-$12,000 used 2012-2019
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Key Specs

speed
Top Speed
220 km/h (estimated, Honda did not publish official top speed)
bolt
Power
129 hp
@ 6,750 rpm
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Torque
129 Nm
@ 5,000 rpm
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Fuel Economy
15.4 km/L
36 mpg ยท 6.5โ€“7.5 L/100km (typical real-world average)
build
Service Every
12,000 km
scale
Weight
267 kg
(wet/curb weight, DCT model; standard manual slightly less)
settings
Engine
1237cc liquid-cooled V4
height
Seat Height
850 mm
cog
Transmission
6-speed DCT (Dual Clutch Transmission) or 6-speed manual
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Engine Lifespan
150,000+ km with proper maintenance
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Used Buyer Review

The VFR1200X is Honda's answer to a question nobody really asked โ€” what if we took a sport-tourer engine and bolted it into an adventure bike? The result is genuinely brilliant in ways that'll surprise you. That 1237cc V4 pulls hard from anywhere in the rev range, sounds absolutely savage at full chat, and makes BMW's parallel twins feel agricultural by comparison. DCT models especially are effortless in traffic without feeling disconnected from the riding experience. Buy used and check the rear suspension first โ€” it's the bike's Achilles heel. Stock setup is too soft for anything beyond solo riding and aftermarket units aren't cheap. Also verify the shaft drive has been serviced; neglected examples develop lash that gets annoying fast. Fuel economy hovers around 40mpg, which is acceptable given the performance on offer. Pre-purchase, scrutinize the fairing carefully โ€” panels are expensive and Honda discontinued some parts around 2019. Find a clean 2016-2019 example with service history and you've got an effortlessly capable machine that most riders will never outgrow.

Pros

+V4 sounds genuinely spectacular
+DCT gearbox works brilliantly
+Shaft drive, zero chain maintenance
+Effortless long-distance cruising ability
+Rock-solid Honda reliability

Cons

-Rear suspension underdamped stock
-Parts availability worsening yearly
-Heavy for technical offroad use
-Thirstier than rivals at pace
warning
Avoid if

You prioritize genuine offroad capability over asphalt

description View full specs, facts & rivals for Honda Vfr1200x โ†’

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